The Society reminds members: everyone is already a Pope. The Pope Ledger is not a list of who is a Pope (that would be the entire planet). It is a list of those who have filed paperwork to that effect — in other words, those who have registered an account at the Discordian Temple. The distinction is bureaucratic. The distinction is also the only distinction.

12 Popes on the rolls. Membership is recorded retroactively. Removal is also retroactive, but in the other direction.